A singer and spokesman for the LGBT community in Northern Ireland has told how he felt ‘accepted and equal’ after he was granted permission to film his pop video in a Catholic church in the town.

Conleth Kane, who used to sing in the choir in St Peter’s chapel in Lurgan when he was younger, wrote a heartbreak song, The Grass is Greener, following the breakdown of a relationship over the summer.

The song, which was posted on Facebook, went viral with over 70,000 views and 1,000 shares, prompting him to decide to release it as an independent single.

And when it came to shooting the accompanying music video, there was only location he had in mind – the chapel he had sung in as a school boy and with which he felt a personal lifelong connection.

“When I wrote the song it was about breaking up with me ex but I’ve moved on now from that,” he said. “The song is actually about loss in general and when I sing it now, it’s my two grand-mothers, Annie Kane and Margaret Marley that I’m thinking of. I miss them both every day and for me, St Peter’s is the place I feel closest to them.

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“I went there with my family when I was a child. I made my First Holy Communion there and I sang in the choir. My granny Annie’s funeral was held there. And I have a personal relationship with God too. When something good happens in my life, he’s the first person I turn to. When something bad happens as well, he’s the first person I turn to.

“I’ve been living in London since I was 19 and could’ve chosen anywhere to film the video but the only location I had in mind was St Peter’s. It’s a very personal song and to me, the chapel in Lurgan was the ideal place.”

Conleth approached St Peter’s caretaker, Noel McCann and asked about the possibility of using the chapel, half expecting the response to be no. So he was surprised when the caretaker replied and said he’d talk to the parish priest. Then, to Conleth’s delight, he received a text, granting him permission to use the chapel for four hours. The only stipulation was that Conleth and the camera crew were not to go near the altar.

“I came home earlier this month to film the video, which was directed by George Clarke, “he said. “We were basically locked in the chapel for four hours and told just to keep away from the alter, which of course we agreed to.

“We covered the floor in candles and dimmed the lights and shot the video. It felt so peaceful in the chapel and I’m thrilled with the end result.

“But for me, it means more much than that. As a gay man form Northern Ireland, where a dark cloud hangs over the LGBT community, it means so much to me that I was allowed to film this video in my old chapel. I feel very accepted and I feel equal and that’s a wonderful feeling.”

Conleth used to sing in the choir in St Peter’s chapel

Conleth, who will be staging a Christmas show at the Black Box on December 18, said he was very grateful to the Catholic church for giving him access to St Peter’s.

“As a gay man, I did worry a bit that some people might think it’s a bit hypocritical of me but I’m as entitled to have faith as much as anyone else,” he said.

“I was a bit anxious that the local community might have a problem with it, but everyone so far has been so supportive. To have been told ‘the chapel is yours, we’ll leave it to you’ meant the world to me.”

The Grass Is Greener will be released this Monday on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Amazon and the video is on YouTube.